Sustain Yourself Through Arduous Hikes with these 15 Protein-Packed Foods

Ever wonder what affordable, nutritious, and long-lasting food you can bring on long hikes, camps, or backpacking tours? I’ll bet the first thing that pops into your mind is the same old boring raisins, nuts, and granola schtick you’ve been hearing for ages – you’re not wrong, those are definite staples, but it’s not the ONLY staple.

Far too often, newbies to backpacking get the nutrition side wrong – the exclusion universe of these foods are not just limited to just pounds and pounds or sacks and sacks of homemade trail mix and granola bars. See, prepping for arduous outdoor activities such as the ones mentioned need proper sustenance, and that’s just what we’ve come up with – 15 amazing food choices that aren’t as boring as the usual fare you’ll see being shilled.

Eating on a hike should be a filling, power-packed, flavorful, and easy to carry thing.

1. Instant Rice

Instant rice is a godsend for your carbohydrate requirements – instant rice is easy to bring around, and, with a little extra work, makes for a great risotto meal or even paella around the campfire.

2. Mashed Potato Flakes

The same is true for your mashed potato flakes – all you need is hot water to make a tasty, starchy and carbohydrate-laden snack. Pair it with a protein source for a delicious meal in the wild.

3. Powdered Peanut Butter

Protein sources are at a premium when you’re out hiking, but fortunately protein sources can be affordable – this is a great substitute for protein powder, and just as tasty (if not more so).

4. Powdered Eggs

The same is true for powedered eggs, no matter how icky they may seem – all you’ll need to do is to jazz them up with cheese, veg, or meat, and voila! A de luxe, protein-rich meal.

5. All Sorts of Meat Jerky

Protein is always a premium, but fortunately meat jerkies are inexpensive, and can keep you going for days.

6. Dehydrated Vegetables, Greens, and Herbs

If you’re jonesing for veggies and greens, you can purchase dehydrated versions of them in stores everywhere – just add water for your fibre.

7. Canned Fish, Oysters, and Seafood

Canned fish and seafood is cheap and plenty, not to mention easy to carry around and are a real delight to eat. Just make sure to bring with you a can opener that helps with all sorts of canned food you’ll bring – as suggested by Can Cutters.

8. Dry Soup/Broth Mix

Sometimes, hot soup on a rainy hike just hits the spot.

9. Crackers and Biscuits

Sweet or savory, it doesn’t matter – it’s always a great snack.

10. Hard, Dry Cheeses

We can’t mention crackers without mentioning cheese, can we? They keep for long, they taste great, and they mix well with any carbohydrate source we suggested.

11. Dry-Cured Sausages and Related Processed Meats

As is true for jerky, the same is for your chorizo.

12. Cup/Ramen Noodles

The old standby, wherein you get nice hot soup, plus carbohydrates to fill your stomach.

13. Pancake/Waffle Mix

The smell of pancakes or waffles frying over the campfire on a beautiful mountain morning is just sublime.

14. Dry Pasta

Pasta is good to bring too, just as rice is!

15. Instant Oats

Mainstays are mainstays – porridge just goes well whether it is sweet, bland, or savory. Mix and match for maximum effect!